Tumbler washer



y E. E. LEWIS 2,242,361

' TUMBLER WASHER Filed May 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor ILL/s .E'. LEW/s,

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A iiomeys May 20, 1941'. E. E. LEWIS TUMBLER WASHER Filed May 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 w m w M E L I I 6 A a Patented May 20, 1941 orric TULER WASHER Application May 9, .1939, Serial No. 272,696

4 Claims. (CI. -76) This invention pertains to new and useful improvements in tumbler washers and has for one of its important objects to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a power driven machine of this character which may be conveniently moved from place to place and which is adapted to be mounted for operation in a conventional kitchen sink or the like.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide, in a tumbler washing machine comprising a plurality of brushes driven by an electric motor, novel means for automatically controlling said electric motor.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a washing machine of the aforementioned character which is adapted to thoroughly clean both the inside and the outside of a tumbler simultaneously.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a tumbler washing machine of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a View principally in vertical longitudinal section through a tumbler washing machine-constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan View thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional View on an enlarged scale through an intermediate portion of the machine.

Figure 4 is a detail View principally in Vertical section, showing the connection between the vertically slidable intermediate brush shaft and the plunger.

Figure 5 is a detail View in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Figure 6 is a detail view in elevation of the motor control switch.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a substantially rectangular casing of suitable material which is designated generally by the reference numeral I. The casing I is mounted on an elongated base 23 one end of which, it'

will be observed, projects beyond the correspondis a plurality of suction cups 51.

ing and of said casing. Rising from this projecting end portion of the base 23 is a vertical support 40 the purpose of which will be presently set forth. Mounted beneath the base 23 The casing I includes a top 2 and a horizontal partition 3, thus providing compartments 5 and 6 in said casing. Mounted vertically on the upper portion of the support 4!! is an electric motor 8 which is controlled by a suitable switch 9. The motor 8 may be of any suitable horse power. As illustrated to advantage in Fig. 6 of the drawings,'the type of switch which has been shown comprises a pivoted blade 43.

Mounted on the top 2 and the partition 3 of the casing I are bearings II and I2 having journaled therein vertical shafts III. The reference numeral I3 designates an intermediate vertical shaft which is rotatably and slidably mounted in bearings I4 which are provided therefor on the top 2 and the partition 3 of the casing I. Substantially frusto conical removable brushes I5 are threadedly mounted on the upper end portions of the shafts I0 and a sim ilar brush I6 is mounted on the upper end portion of the intermediate shaft I3. Stop collars l! and I8 are fixed at spaced points on the shaft is between the bearings I4 for limiting the vertical sliding movement of said shaft.

Mounted for rotation in the casing I between the top 2 and the partition 3 is a longitudinally extending shaft I9. The shaft I9 is journaled in suitable bearings 46 which are provided therefor in the casing I; One end portion of the shaft I9 extends through the corresponding end wall of the casing I and is connected to the electric motor 8 for actuation thereby through the medium of a flexible shaft (not shown) which is enclosed in a flexible conduit 20. Worm gears-2| are fixed at longitudinally spaced points on the shaft I9 and drive worm gears 22 on the vertical shafts I0 and I3 for rotating the brushes I5 and I6. It will be observed that the gear 22 which is on the intermediate shaft I3 is comparatively long for permitting vertical movement of said intermediate shaft. It will also be noted that the arrangement of the gears 2| and 22 is such that the outer brushes I5 will be rotated in one direction and the intermediate brush I6 rotates in the opposite direction.

Mounted on the base 23 in the casing I is a guide 24 in which a plunger 26 is mounted for Vertical sliding movement. The plunger 26 is aligned with the intermediate shaft I3 and includes a head 21 on its upper end having a socket 28 therein for the reception of the lower end portion of said shaft l3. As best seen in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the socket 28 has formed in its lower end a substantially conical recess 29 for the reception of the correspondingly shaped head 30 on the lower end of a pin 3|.

The upper portion of the pin 3| is engaged in a socket 32 which is provided therefor in the lower end portion of the shaft l3. Thus, the shaft l3 and the plunger 26 are operatively con- It is believed that the many advantages of a tumbler washer constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the machine is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangenected but spaced from each other at all times. i

guides 35 which are provided therefor on the base 23 is a longitudinally extending rod 36. The rod 36 passes slidably through one of the end walls of the casing I to a point adjacent the motor support 40. Threadedly mounted on the end portions of the rod 36 are cams 31 and 38, the latter being engaged with the cam 34. Mounted for vertical sliding movement in guides 39 which are provided therefor on the motor support 4|] is a rod 4| having threadedly mounted on its lower end portion a cam 42 which is engaged with the cam 31. The upper end of the rod 4| is operatively connected to the blade 43 of the motor control switch 9 for opening and closing said switch. A coil spring 45 yieldingly urges the rod 4| downwardly for opening the switch 9. Stop collars 46 are fixed on the rod 4|.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of ment of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A tumbler washer comprising a support, a pair of spaced brushes rotatably mounted on said support, an intermediate brush rotatably and slidably mounted on the support, a shaft journaled on the support, means operatively connecting the brushes to said shaft for actuation thereby, an electric motor operatively connected to the shaft for actuating same, a switch for controlling said motor, and means operatively connecting said switch to the intermediate brush for operation thereby upon sliding movement thereof, the last named means including a slidably mounted plunger operable by the intermediate brush, a slidablerod, coacting cams operatively connecting said rod to the plunger for actuation thereby, a second slidable rod operatively connected to the switch, and coacting cams operatively connecting the foregoing. Briefly, the switch 9 is normally held in open position by the coil spring and the intermediate brush I6 is normally supported in elevated position relative to the brushes |5 'by the coil spring 33. The tumbler to be washed is inverted and pressed downwardly on the intermediate brush l6, thus forcing the shaft l3 downwardly. The shaft I3 moves the plunger 26 downwardly against the tension of the coil spring 33 thus elevating the rod 4| through the rod 36 and the various cams against the tension of the spring 45 in a manner to close the switch 9. When the electric motor is thus energized the shaft I9 is rotated for driving the brushes l5 and IS. The intermediate brush |6 cleans the inside of the tumbler and the brushes |5 clean the outside thereof. When the tumbler has been cleaned and is removed the brush l6 and the various parts are returned to their former positions by the springs 33 and 45 thereby opening the switch 9 for stopping the electric motor 8. If desired, a manually operated switch may also be provided for controlling the motor 8 should the user of the device wish continuous rotation of the brushes 5 and H5. The entire machine is placed in a conventional kitchen sink or the like which is filled with water to the desired depth. The electric motor 8 and the control switch 9 are, of course, above the level of the water. tion cups 41 releasably secure the machine in position in the sink or other receptacle.

The sucmovement thereof.

the second named rod to the first named rod for actuation thereby.

2. A tumbler washer comprising a support, a pair of spaced brushes rotatably mounted on ,the support, an intermediate brush rotatably mounted on the support, and. slidable relative to the first named brushes, an electric motor, common means operatively connecting the brushes to said motor for rotating the first named brushes in. one direction and. the intermediate brush in the opposite direction, a switch for controlling the motor, and means operatively connecting said switch to the intermediate brush for operation thereby upon sliding movement thereof.

3. A tumbler washer comprising a support, an exterior and an interior brush rotatably mounted on the support to receive the wall of a tumbler therebetween with said interior brush extending into the tumbler, said interior brush being slidably mounted relative to the exterior brush for sliding movement by the tumbler positioned over said interior brush, an electric motor, common means operatively connecting the brushes to said motor for rotating the interior brush in one direction and the exterior brush in the opposite direction, a switch for controlling the motor, and means operatively connecting said switch to the interior brush for operation thereby upon sliding movement thereof.

4. 'A' tumbler washing machine comprising a base, a casing portion on said base, a vertical support rising from the base, a vertical shaft rotatably and slidably mounted in the casing portion, a brush on the upper end portion of said shaft, an'electric motor mounted on the support, means operatively connecting the shaft to said motor for actuation thereby, a control switch for the electric motor mounted on the support, and means operatively connecting said switch to the shaft for operation therebyupon sliding ELLIS E. LEWIS. 

